Centrifugal casting machine



Jan. 1, 1946. Pjc. VOGEL `CENTRIFUGL CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 19433 Sheets-Sheet 1 a 73 l 97 6a. .98

Jan. l, 1946. Pfc. VOGEL CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2`Filed Aug. 2, 1943 Jan. 1, 1946. P. c. VOGEL CENTRI-FUGAL CASTINGMACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l Patented Jan. l, 1946CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Paul C. vogelpwaukesha, Wis., assigner toAllia- Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation ofDelaware Application August 2, 1943, Serial No. 497,014

11 claim. (ci. arf-e5) This invention relates to centrifugal castingmachines of the type selectively'positionable to rotate with the axis ofits mold supporting shaft disposed vertically or horizontally or in anyone of an infinite number of intermediate positions,

and its primary object is to provide an improved machine of such typewhich is compact, extremely durable and substantially free fromobjectional vibrations and. which can bevreadily manufactured,assembled, operated and serviced with minimum expense.

Accordingly, the invention consists of the various details ofconstruction, correlations of elements and arrangements of parts as ismore fully set forth in the appended claims and in the detaileddescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a casting machine embodying the inventionwith parts broken away to better show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line II-II of Fig. 1;

stantially at right angles to the common axis of said trunnions andprojections, a shaft I4 rotatably mounted in said bearings and includingthereon for movement therewith a mold supporting head I6 which extendsbeyond the trunnioned end of the housing 6 and a gear I1 which isdisposed between the bearings I2 and I3 and adjacent the trunnions 9 andII, a gear carrying drive shaft I8 which" is insertable through androtatably mounted within one of said trunnions,

the trunnion 9 in this illustration, with the gear Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken on line III-III off Fig.2:

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of the mold supporting head;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section illustrating a modified mold and moldsupporting head construction;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 'I shows the drive shaft supporting shell i longitudinal section;

Fig. 8 is a view of the left end of the shell shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9` is a view of the left side of the cover member shown in Fig. 2;and

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line X-X of Fig. 9. I Referring to thedrawings and particularly to Figs. l, 2 and 3, it is seen that apparatusembodying the invention may include spaced supporting elementscomprising opposed parallel walls I and 2-presenting a pair ofalinedhollow trunnion receiving projections 3 and 4 extending substantiallyperpendicular to the walls I and 2, respectively, a rectangular housing6 disposed between and supported on the walls I and 2 for angularmovement relative thereto by means of spaced side walls 1 and 8presenting oppositely extending hollow supportingtrunnions 8 and IIjournaled 'within the projections 3 and 4, respectively, a

pair of shaft supporting bearings I2 and I3 mounted in spaced coaxialrelation within the housing 6 on opposite sides of the trunnions 9 andII with their common axis extending sub- I9 thereon in mesh with thegear I1 on the shaft I4, and a mold 2| which is removably securedreinforcing or stiiening ribs or flanges 28 and 29 connecting the baseiianges 23 and 24 with. the underside of the trunnion receivingprojections 3 and l, respectively. The walls I and 2 are also providedon inner opposed portions thereof with similar arcuate bosses 3| havingone or a series of similar arcuate slots 33 extending therethrough andthe opposed portion of the housing 6, that is, the side walls 1 and 8thereof, are provided with similar tapped circular bosses 36 whichslidably engage the opposed portions of the bosses 3| and may besecurely clamped thereto in a selected position by means .of tap bolts38.v In this connection, the trunnion receiving projections 3 and t areeach provided interme- .4I in boss 39and have arcuate surfaces 44 and 46adapted to engage circumferentially spaced side portions of the trunnionand be clamped thereagainst by an interconnecting stud bolt 41. Thisconstruction permits selectively varying the angularty of the housing 6relative to the supporting elements or walls I and 2 simply by looseningtap bolts 41 and, depending upon the arcuate length of slots 33 and 3land the extent to which the housing is to be turned, by also looseningor removing tap bolts 38 whereupon the housing can be readily turned onits supporting trunnions to a selected one of an infinite number ofpositions between vertical and horizontal limits as determined by thearcuate slots 33 in the walls I and 2 and tren rigidly secured in theselected position merely by again tightening the tap belts 41 and 38.The rigidity of the supporting walls I and 2 may be additionallyincreased by means of interconnecting braces or cross bars 45 as shownin Fig. 1.

The side walls- 1 and 8 of housing '6 are interconnected by removal ofcovervplates or Walls 46 and 49 (see Fig. 3) andthe thrust bearing I2 isremovably supported within the lower portion of the housing 6 by meansci' a cylindrical bearing retaining member which embodies a lowerinwardly extending annular flange 52 supportingly engaging the bottomsurface of the outer ball retaining ring of bearing I2 and which is inturn suspended within a member 54 by means of an upper outwardlyextending flange 56 and tap bolts 51. Member 54 includes an upperoutwardly extending flange 56 having a rectangular periphery with theportions thereof contiguous to the side walls i and 6 of housing 6welded or otherwise secured thereto asshown in Fig. 2 and a lowerinwardly extending annular ilange 59 which is axially spaced from theflange 52 on member 5i. An axial upward movement of bearing I2 isprevented in part by means of washers 6| and tap bolts 62 secured to theupper flange 56 on member 5i as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. An annularoil collecting sump 63 which embodies a shaft engaging portion 64 and anexternally threaded depending packing confining flange 66 is coaxiallyand removably secured to the bottom flange oir'` member 54 in anysuitable manner such as by tap bolts 61. f

A packing nut 65 is threadably secured to the flange 66. The housing -6also includes a removable bottom wall or spider structure 68 embodying ahollow boss or the like 69 having therein a fluid confining chamber 16,an upper coaxial shaft receiving opening 1I provided with a shaftengaging seal ring 12, a lower restricted coaxial uid admission opening13, and a side drain or fluid return opening 14.

The bearing y| 3 is removably supported within the upper end of thehousing 6 by means of a member 16 whichhas a cylindrical bearingreceiving opening and an inwardly extending annular flange 11supportinglv engaging the bottom surface of the outer roller retainingring of bearing I3 and which has an outer rectangular configurationconforming vwith that of the housing 6 with the portions of member 16which are contiguous to the side walls 1 and 8 welded or otherwisesecured thereto as best shown in Fig. 2.

An axial upward movement of bearng I3 is prevented byan annularretaining member 18 which is secured to member 16 and/.or housing 6 bymeans of tap bolts 19 and which includes a de pending rib or ange 80engaging the upper edge of the outer roller retaining ring thereof. ashaft engaging seal ring 82 and a lubricant admitting passage 83.`

In assembling the structure hereinbefore de,

place within the housing 6. can be readily positioned therein, aspreviously described, simply by removing one of the cover plates 48 and49 after which the subassembly comprising the mold carrying shaft I4,the retaining member 18 for bearing uI3, the bearing I3`which is pressedonto a bearing retaining portion 84 of shaft I4 with its inner `rollerengaging ring abutting a positioning shouldery 81 thereon, the gear I1which is keyed Y to the shaft i4 as indicated by numeral 68 with` itshub portion abutting a positioning shoulder 88 and a sleeve 9| whichsurrounds the shaft I4 with one end abutting the hub portion of gear I1can be readily inserted coaxially through the supportl i ing member 16for bearing I3 and then through the bearing i2 until the end of thesleeve 9| abuts the inner ball retaining ring of bearing I2. Theassembly can now be readily completed by slip-` ping the clamping nut 93over the lower end of the shaft and tightening same on the threadedportion 94 thereof, by slipping the oil sump 63 over the lower end ofthe shaft and securing same to the flange 59 on member 66, by slippingthe, packing nut y66 over the lower end of the shaft and securing sameto the flange '66 `on sump 66, by attaching the bottom wall or spiderstructure 66 to the side walls ,1 and 8 of housing 6 with the lower endof shaft I6 projecting through the opening 'II in boss S9 to va pointadjacent to and spaced from the bottom of chamber 'i6 and by insertingand tightening the tap bolts 19 to secure -the member 16 and bearing I3in place.

The outside diameter yof gear I1 and bearing I2 is less than thediameter of the coaxial opening dened by ahge 'I1 of member 16, and itshould therefore be apparent that if for any reason it should becomenecessary to repair or replace 'shaft I4, retaining member 18, bearingsI2 and I3, gear I1, sleeve 9| and clamping nut 93., these elements canbe readily withdrawn as a unit simply by detaching the cover plates 48and 49 in order to gain access to tap bolts 62 and then loosening nut 65and removing the tap bolts 62, the washers 6I, an'd the tap bolts 19.After making the necessary repairs or replacements, the elements whenreassembled can be repositioned in the housing as a unit and made readyfor operation by tightening packing nut 65 and replacing washers 6|, tap

bolts 62 and 19 and cover members 48 and 49.

Shaft I4 is bored or otherwise constructed to embody therein a shortcoaxial end bore or chamber 96 in which is telescoped a coaxial endportion y of a cooling fluid supply pipe- 91 which sealingly extendsthroughl the coaxial opening 13 in the bottom wall 68 of housing 6- andincludes a ilexible portion 98, a pair of axially extending fluid'conducting passages 99 and I6| which terminate at their upper ends in achamber |62 formed in the mold supporting `head portion I6 thereof, and

a pair of laterally extending passages |63 and |64 which place the lowerends of passages 99 and |6| in communication with the bore 96 andchamber 16, respectively. Chamber |62 may be formed in part by aremovable cover plate |66 embodying a' depending flange or the like |61(see Fig. 4) adapted to produce amore positive circulation of .coolingfluid throughout all portions of the chamber and thereby a more uniformcooling of the head portion I6.' However, if It isy desired to directlycool or chill the mold,2I which is secured to head portion I6, the moldmay be provided with passages or jacketed for the positive circulationof cooling iluid therethrough as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in which thecover plate |66 is removed and the bottom of the mold is.

provided with a depending flange |66 effective passage 89 to passthrough a portion of chamber |82 and passage |89 into the jacket spaceIII in which it flows upward and then over the top of partition elementsII2 into jacket space I I3 from which it flows through passage |I4 andthe remaining portion of chamber |02 to shaft passage III. throughsupply pipe 91 into bore 96 ilows therefromv through passage |83,passage 99, chamber |62, passage IIII and passage |64 into chamber 18from which it leaves through the side opening 14. Consequently, theshaft I4 and all parts directly connected therewith are or may beeffectivelycooled at all times irrespective of the angular` position ofthe housing 6 relative to the supporting walls I and 2.

Drive shaft I 8 projects through and is rotatably mounted within thehollow trunnion 9 by means of' a cylindrical shell I I6 which can beinserted into and withdrawn from the coaxial opening in said-trunnionand which (see Figs. 7 and 8) embodies at its outer end a laterallyextending annular positioning flange I I1 adapted to abut the adjacentend of the trunnion 9, an outer end bearing receiving and positioningcounterbore II8, an inner end bearing receiving and positioningcounterbore II9, an intermediate internal strengthening rib or flange|2|, an axially extending lubricant conducting passage |22 includingaxially spaced outlet branches-|23 and |24 inner and ouJter enlargedbearing engaging portions I32 and |33, respectively, an inner gear hubreceiving portion |34 contiguous to the bearing engaging portion |32, aseal engaging surface |36 axially-spaced outwardly from the' bearingengaging portion |33, an externally threaded portion |31 intermediateand contiguous to the bearing engaging portion |33 and the threadedportion |81, and an outer splined end |38 adapted for connection with asuitable driving means. Drive shaft I8 may be readily mounted withinshell II6 by pressing ball bearing |39 into the bearing receivingcounterbore II8, by inserting the outer splined end of the shaft throughthe inner end of the shell and bearing |39 until the latter engages thecoacting portion I33, by slipping a lock nut I4| over the outer end ofthe shaft and engaging same with the threaded portion |31. by slipping asleeve |42 over the inner'end of the shaft until its outer end engagesthe inner ball retaining ring of bearing |39, by slipping a rollerbearing |43 over the inner end of the shaft and pressing same into thebearing receiving counterbore II9 with its inner roller engaging ringabutting [the inner end of sleeve |42, by placing a washer |44 over the.inner end of the shaft and against the inner roller engaging ring of'bearing |43, by placing the gear I9 on the inner end of the shaft withits hub portion engaging the washer |44 and securing the gear in thisposition by means of a key |46, and by placing Aand securing a washer|41 against the inner hub portion of gear I9 by means of a tap bolt |48threaded coaxially into the end of shaft|8.

.The assembly comprising shell II6, bearings |89 and |43, sleeve |42 andlock nut I4I can be inserted axially through the trunnion 9 until the Ingeneral, the cooling fluid deliveredv shaft I4 whereupon the lock nutI4I can be tightened to the desired extent and a cover member` |49,which embodies a pair of axially spaced shaft engaging seal rings |50and a coaxial shaft receiving opening I 5|, can lbe slipped-over theouter end of shaft I6 and attached to the end of trunnion 9 with theflange II1 of shell II6 clamped -therebetween by means of tap bolts|52'. Cover member |49 also has vformed therein (see Figs. 9 and 10) anarcuate shapedchamber |53 which communicates with the coaxial group oflubricant conducting passages |28 to provide areturnllubricant ductextending axially through the bottom portion of shell I|6 irrespectiveof variations in the angularity of the trunnion 9 and shell II6 relativeto the trunnion receiving projection 3. Consequently, when the vhousing6 is moved angularly relative to the supporting elements, any lubricantdelivered through passages |26, |22, |23 and |24 into the space providedbetween the interior of shell |I6 and shaft sleeve |42 is subfstantially free after passing through bearingv |39 to return to theupper interior portion of housing 6 fromwhich it passes to the oil sump63.

Lubricant is supplied to bearings I2, I3, |39 and I 43 and to gears I1and I9 by means of a motor driven pump |54 which is disposed within andmounted o n a reservoir |56 which is in turn secured inany desiredmanner such as by welding as shown in Fig. 1 to the exposed lower edgeportions of the side Walls 1 and 8 of housing 6. Reservoir |56 isconnected with oil sump 63 by means of a pipe |51 and the discharge ofpump |54 is connected with thevpassages 83 and I 21 by means of a pipe|58 and branches |59 and I6I, respectively; pipe I58 also havingadditional branches |62 and |63 which extend through cover plate 49 ofhousing 6 and into proximity to the bearing I2 and gears I1 and I9,respectively, for flowing a lubricant thereover. Consequently, it shouldnow be obvious that all moving parts of the machine canvbe adequatelylubricated at all times irrespective of the angularity of the housing 6relative to the fixed supports.

The gear carrying drive shaft I8 can be readily removed from thetrunnioned portion of housing 6 simply by removing the tap bolts |52 andpulling the assembly comprising the shell II6, bearings I39 and |43 andshaft I8 from the trunnion 9 whereupon'the elements can be taken apartand repaired or replaced as required and again reinserted in operativerelation within the trunnion 9 replaced as required, reassembled, andagain placed in operative relation within the machine with the leastpossible effort. In addition, all heated and moving parts of the machineare adequately cooled and lubricated, respectively, irrespective of theangular relation of the mold supporting and driving shafts,` thusinsuring a long life for all parts which are subject to wear.

The invention embodies numerous features which are applicable tocentrifugal casting machines generally, and although theinvention as awhole is particularly applicable to machines which are frequentlyoperated at different speeds with the axis of the mold carrying shaftpositioned at different angles relative to a reference axis, it shouldbe understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to theexact detailsv of congear I9 properlymeshes with-the-ge'ar I1-onstruction herein shown and described as various modincations within thelscope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A centrifugal casting machine comprising,

spaced supporting elementswpresenting a pair of alined oppositelyextending hollow trunnion receiving projections, a housing disposedbetween said elements and having a pair of alined oppositely extendinghollow trunnions journaled in telescoped supported relation on saidprojections, means for selectively varying the angularity of saidhousing relative to said elements, a mold carrying shaft rotatablymounted within said housing for movement therewith with its longitudlnalaxis extending substantially at right angies to the longitudinal axis ofsaid trunnions, and a gear carrying drive shaft movable coaxially as aunit through and supported by a telescoped projection and trunnion withthe gear thereon rotatably connected with the adjacent portion of saidmold carrying shaft.

2. A centrifugal `casting machine comprising spaced supporting elementspresenting a pair of alined oppositely extending hollow trunnionreceiving projections, a housing disposedl between said elements andincluding a pair of oppositely extending hollow supporting trunnionsjournaled on said projections, a pair of annular bearing supportsmounted in spaced coaxial relation' within and withdrawable from one ofsaid trunnions, a drivefshaft extending through and carvried'by saidshell for movement therewith and for rotation relative thereto, saiddrive shaft having on one end thereof a gear which is smaller than theoutside diameter of said shell, and

means removably securing said shell within said one trunnion with thegear thereon in mesh with the gear on said mold carrying shaft.

. 5. A centrifugal casting machine comprising spaced supporting elementspresenting a pair of alined oppositely extending hollow trunnionreceiving projections, a housing disposed between said elements andincluding side wall portions opposing said elements and presentingalined oppositely extending hollow trunnions journaled in telescopedsupported relation on said projections, means for selectively varyingthe angularity of said housing relative to said elements, a pair o!shaft supporting bearings mounted in spaced coaxial relation within said.housing on opposite sides of said trunnions, a mold carrying shaftrotatably mounted in said bearings, and a gear carrying drive shaftmovable coaxially as.a unit through and supported by a telescopedprojection and trunnion with the gear thereon drivingly connected with apart on said mold shaft intermediate the bearings supporting same.

6. A 'centrifugal casting machine comprising spaced supporting elementspresenting a pair of alined hollow trunnion receiving projections, a

- housing disposed between said elements and hav- 3. A centrifugalcasting machine comprising spaced supporting elements presenting a pairof alined `oppositely extending hollow trunnion receiving projections, ahousing disposed between said elements and including a pair ofoppositely extending hollow supporting trunnions journaled on saidprojections, a mold carrying shaft rotatably mounted within said housingfor movement therewith, a gear secured on said shaft adjacent saidtrunnions, a shell axially positionable within and withdrawable from oneof said trunnions, a

s securing said shell within said one trunnion with the gear thereon inmesh' with the gear on said mold carryingV shaft. n

4. A centrifugal casting machine comprising spaced supporting elementspresenting a pair of Valined oppositely extending hollow trunnionreceiving projections, a housing -disposed between saidA elements andincluding a pair of oppositely extending hollow supporting trunnionsjournaled .on said projections, a pair of annular bearing supportsmounted in spaced coaxial relation within said housing, a mold carryingshaftv embodying thereon a pair of axially spaced bearings, a geardisposed between said bearings and means uniting and rendering saidshaft, bearings and gear mountable on and removable from said pair ofsupports as a unit, a shell axially positionable ing alined oppositelyextending hollow trunnions journaled in telescoped supported relationwithin said projections, means for selectively varying the angularity ofsaid housing relative to said elements,v a pair of shaft supportingbearings mounted in spaced coaxial relation within said housing on`opposite sides of said trunnions, a shaft rotatably mounted in saidbearings and including thereon a mold supporting head projecting beyondthe trunnioned end of lsaid housing and a gear disposed betweensaidbearings and 'adjacent said trunnions, and a gear carrying drive shaftcoaxially movable as a unit through and supported by a telescopedprojection and trunnion with the gear thereon in mesh with the gear onthe shaft embodying said mold supporting head.

7. A centrifugal casting machine comprising spaced supporting elementsincluding a pair of opposed walls presenting a pair of alined hollowtrunnion receiving projections extending substantially perpendicular tosaid walls, a housing disposed between said walls and including spacedside walls opposing portions of said element walls and presenting alinedoppositely extending hollow trunnions journaled in telescoped supportedrelation within said projections, means for selectively varying theangularity of said housing relative to said elements, a pair of shaftsupporting bearings mounted in spaced coaxial relation within saidhousing on opposite sides of said trunnions i n telescoped trunnion andprojection with the gear thereon in4 mesh with the gear on the shaftembodying said mold supporting head.-.

j aaaaaee 8. A centrifugal casting machine comprising spaced supportingelements including a pair of opposed parallel walls presenting a pair ofalined hollow trininion receiving projections extending substantiallyperpendicular to said walls, a rectangulaiv housing disposed betweensaid walls and including spaced side walls opposing portions of saidelement walls and presenting alined roppositely extending hollowtr'unnions journaled in telescoped supported relation on saidprojections, means including slidably engaged portions of said side andelement walls for selectively varying the angularity of said housingrelative to said elements. a pair of shaft supporting bearings mountedin spaced coaxial relation within said housing on opposite sides of saidtrunnions with by a telescoped trunnion and projection with the' gearthereon in mesh with the gear on the shaft embodying said moldsupporting head.

il, A centrifugal casting machine comprising spaced supporting elementspresenting a iixed f pair of alinecl oppositely extending hollowtrunnion receiving projections, a housing disposed between said elementsand having a pair of alined oppositely extending hollow trunnionsjournaled in telescoped supported relation on said xed '3' projections,a m'bld carrying shaft rotatably mounted within said housing, and amold-shalt rotating means movable coaxially through and supported by atelescoped projection and trunl said elements and having a pair ofoppositely extending hollow trunnions supportingly jour naled on saidprojections', a pair of bearing supports mounted in spaced coaxialrelation within said housing, a mold carrying shaft Vembodying thereon apair of axially spaced bearings, a men, ber for rotating the shaft andmeans uniting and rendering said shaft,4 bearings and member mountableon and removable from said pair of supports as a unit, and` ay driveshaft extending through and carried by a supportingly, combinedprojection and trunnion with its inner end drivingly connected with themember on said mold carrying shaft.

11. A centrifugal casting machine comprising spaced supporting elementspresenting a ilxed vpair of alined oppositely extending hollow trun nionreceiving projections, a housing disposed between said elements andhaving a pair of alined oppositely extending hollow trunnions journaledin telescoped supported relation on said projections, a pair of bearingsupports mounted in spaced coaxial relation Within said housing, a moldcarrying shaft embodying thereon a pair of axially spaced bearings, amember for rotating the shaft and means uniting and rendering saidshaft, bearings and member mountable on and removable from said pair ofsupports as a unit, and a mold-shaft rotating means extending throughand carried by a telescoped projection and trunnion With its inner enddrivingly engaged with said member.

PAUL C. VOGEL.

